August 27, 2014

The Herb Garden in August

Now that it's August, the herb garden is finally looking established, full and green. I enjoy going out there each day to water each individual plant and see how they're doing. It's almost like visiting friends. I brush my fingers against the rosemary, the different basils, the catnip and mint; they smell so good.

The grasshopper population has declined. I'm sure they've laid their eggs in the ground for next year's invasion, but at least for now, there aren't as many of them and my plants are finally able to grow and thrive.

I have four kinds of basil this year: sweet basil (genovese), dark opal basil, cinnamon basil and purple basil.

The cinnamon basil has gone to seed. I've been pinching off the sweet basil flowers so it will continue growing leaves that I can harvest, but I let the others "do their thing".

Do you remember when I confessed that I've never been able to keep rosemary alive? This plant has outlived my expectations and still looks great.

I was a little worried about planting catnip, but the outdoor cats have ignored it. Whether or not a cat likes catnip is a genetic thing.

Calendula

Marigolds

I finally spotted a dozen little paprika peppers on this plant.

The lavender plant is just beginning to bloom again.

Lemon balm

I planted oregano seeds; they sprouted and grew to a grand height of about a quarter inch, where they remained for two months and then died. I've replanted the pot and hope for better success.

A dear friend sent me a birthday card made of handmade paper with flower seeds embedded in it. I kept the inner card but "planted" the handmade paper in a pot in the herb garden.

Soon there were little seedlings, and now they've grown tall and the zinnias are blooming. There are small purple flowers as well but I'm not sure what they are. Verbena maybe?

Not all the flowers in the herb garden are herbs, but they are all delightful, lending cheerful color to the variety of green leaves and the sweet and spicy scents. I'm enjoying the addition of the container garden. I hope I can overwinter the perennials in the house so that I can enjoy them again next spring.

Hi Caitlin, this is the first time I've kept rosemary alive for more than a couple of weeks.

Sweet basil (also known as genovese basil) is easy to grow; I've grown it for several years and it's pretty tolerant of me. :-) This is the first time I've grown the other three. The opal basil has also been easy; the cinnamon and purple basil were more finicky. I hope that helps.

You have a wonderful little herb garden there. I had a cat that hated catnip. Every time he even got near it he would gag. I used it to keep him out of my inside plants. Oh Lemon Balm smells so wonderful.

How funny about your cat, Ida! I had no idea that some hated catnip, just that some don't care and others go crazy. My outside cats couldn't care less, but my inside cats love the stuff. The inside and outside cats are related - though not closely - but they sure don't share the "catnip-loving gene".

Your herb garden really did well! Have you ever grown key lime basil? Your varieties look wonderful! I think that is verbena growing with the zinnias. Herbs are such a great addition to the garden, adding their enticing aromas. Thanks for sharing on this week's Maple Hill Hop!

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